U.S. patent number 7,036,534 [Application Number 10/675,578] was granted by the patent office on 2006-05-02 for marine engine corrosion prevention system.
Invention is credited to Thomas W. McClure.
United States Patent |
7,036,534 |
McClure |
May 2, 2006 |
Marine engine corrosion prevention system
Abstract
An apparatus and method for prevention of corrosion with the
cooling system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The
apparatus includes a pressurized inert gas source and a fluid
delivery system whereby the gas is dispersed within the cooling
system to expel corrosion inducing fluids such as oxygen and water
vapor. Methods of use are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
McClure; Thomas W. (Brookfield,
WI) |
Family
ID: |
34377192 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/675,578 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20050067045 A1 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/9; 141/63;
141/85; 141/89; 141/91; 422/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01P
3/205 (20130101); F01P 11/06 (20130101); F01P
2011/066 (20130101); F01P 2011/068 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
1/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;141/4-9,85-91,98,11,63
;123/41.14,41.3 ;422/9,10,40 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Maust; Timothy L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ryan Kromholz & Manion,
S.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of inhibiting corrosion on the interior surfaces of an
internal combustion engine cooling system during storage comprising
the steps of: coupling in a fluid tight mating fashion a source of
pressurized inert gas to an intake port formed in said engine;
dispersing said inert gas into said engine cooling system through
said intake port formed in said engine; and purging corrosion
producing fluids from said engine as said inert gas is dispersed
into said engine.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of retaining
said inert gas in said engine whereby corrosion on said internal
surfaces is prevented.
3. The product of the method of claim 1.
4. A method of inhibiting corrosion on the interior surfaces of an
internal combustion engine cooling system during storage comprising
the steps of: coupling in a fluid tight mating fashion a source of
pressurized helium gas to an intake port formed in said engine;
dispersing said helium gas into said engine cooling system through
said intake port formed in said engine; and purging corrosion
producing fluids from said engine as said helium gas is dispersed
into said engine.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for
inhibiting corrosion, and more particularly to a new and improved
apparatus and method that prevents the corroding of cooling fluid
passageways and other surfaces of internal combustion engines
during storage or prolonged periods of non-use. This is
accomplished by removing substantially all of the oxygen and/or
water vapor from the passageways and surfaces.
Internal combustion engines generate power by controlling multiple,
successive explosions of a combustible fuel within one or more
combustion chambers. The process generates not only power through
the power take off component of the engine, but also heat. The heat
generated during the process must be dissipated from the engine to
avoid catastrophic failure of the engine or its components. Smaller
engines typically dissipate heat through the flow of air across the
engine. Air-cooled engines include cooling fins to increase the
efficiency of the cooling process. This is commonly referred to as
convection cooling. Engines used in the lawn and garden industry to
provide power for lawn mowers, snow throwers, chain saws, etc. are
commonly air-cooled.
Larger engines utilize a liquid fluid, such as water or water in
combination with other ingredients for cooling purposes.
Specifically, these larger engines include one or more fluid-tight
passageways located within the engine and around the exterior of
the engine to serve this purpose. Since the majority of the heat is
produced in the combustion chambers, the majority of passageways
are formed about this area of the engine. This structure is
sometimes referred to as the water jacket.
Liquid fluid cooled engines can be further classified into two
categories: closed loop systems and open loop systems. Closed loop
systems circulate a predetermined amount of liquid fluid through
the engine and a heat exchanger, such as a radiator. A pump is
provided to circulate the liquid fluid. The fluid is commonly
referred to as coolant. The fluid absorbs the excess heat around
the combustion chamber (and elsewhere) of the engine and then
dissipates or cools the fluid in the heat exchanger. As the system
is closed, no new or additional fluid is added or removed from the
system during cooling (i.e. engine operation).
An open loop system also includes a pump, but by contrast the open
loop system draws the cooling fluid from a fluid source, circulates
the fluid through the cooling system and then expels the fluid back
to the source. This type of cooling system is commonly used on
marine engines such as outboard engines, inboard engines and
inboard/outboard engines. In the case of a marine engine, the
cooling fluid comprises the body of water within which the boat
utilizing the engine is situated. A common problem with an open
loop cooling system is that the cooling fluid (i.e. water) includes
all of the contaminants and corrosive components that exist in the
fluid. For example, a marine engine operating in a salt-water
environment is subject to the corrosive nature of the salt that
accumulates in its cooling system.
The corrosive nature of salt in marine engines can ultimately lead
to destruction and/or catastrophic failure of the engine after
prolonged exposure to salt. To combat this problem, boat owners and
operators typically "flush" their cooling systems by providing a
fresh water supply at the engine's cooling fluid intake and
operating the engine for a predetermined amount of time to flush
the salt water and residual salt from the cooling system. It is
desirable to flush an engine as soon as possible after operation in
a salt-water environment so that the corrosive salts can be
immediately removed. It is imperative that the salts be removed
before the salt water cools and dries within the cooling system
thereby forming salt crystals within the passageways and on the
interior surfaces of the engine cooling system. A galvanic
corrosive reaction occurs between the salts, oxygen, water vapor
and metal engine components. If not terminated, the corrosion will
continue leading to the ultimate destruction of the engine
component or a portion thereof.
With respect to marine engines, it is known in the art to elevate a
boat on a lift after operation in a salt water environment, connect
a fresh water source to the cooling system intake and operate the
engine for a sufficient time period in an attempt to remove all
salt water and residual salt from the cooling system. Depending
upon the specific type or style of marine engine, many companies
manufacture devices that can be easily and temporarily coupled to
the engine's water intake port. Such devices also include a
coupling or fitting that is connected to a garden hose or similar
supply line. The opposite end of the hose is connected to the fresh
water source.
While this method and apparatus can also be used for marine engines
that are still submersed in salt water, the removal of salts from
the cooling system is much less effective as salt water is likely
to leak into the cooling system during flushing as well as upon
completion of the flushing process.
While this common flushing process is generally accepted as the
best remedy for the removal of salt water from the engine's cooling
system, it is known that the process does not remove all salt from
the system. The flow of fluid through the cooling system is often
such that there exist pockets or areas where the fresh water is
either not circulated or not circulated in sufficient quantities to
remove all of the salt. As a result, at some point in time the
marine engine will be damaged or fail due to corrosion.
Additional drawbacks to the accepted method of flushing include the
necessity of removing the boat from the water on a lift or rack,
accessibility to a plentiful fresh water source, the necessity of
operating the marine engine during the flushing process and the
amount of time it takes to complete the flushing process.
Another known flushing system for marine engines is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,136 to Hahn, et al. This system includes a
reservoir, a dispenser and a connection device. The reservoir is
filled with a protective liquid fluid that includes anticorrosive
properties. The dispenser allows for controlled release of the
protective liquid fluid directly into the engine's cooling system
downstream of the engine's water intake. The boat operator can
release the protective fluid into the cooling system as needed
(i.e. prior to storage of the boat).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention is therefore to
provide a corrosion inhibiting apparatus and method which are easy
to practice, and which will effectively reduce the tendency of
corrosion to accumulate upon the inaccessible surfaces and
passageways of an internal combustion engine cooling system. The
method has been design to be relatively simple and short, while
obviating the difficulties encountered in the practice of prior art
processes. To attain this, the present invention contemplates an
apparatus for the introduction of an inert gas into the interior
cooling system or water jacket of an internal combustion engine,
typically somewhere near the highest point of the cooling system.
The process is continued by allowing the inert gas to circulate
throughout the entire cooling system until all corrosion inducing
fluids, such as oxygen and water vapor are expelled through the
engine's cooling system intake and exhaust output ports. Finally
the inert gas is retained in the system for the length of time it
is desired to preserve the cooling system. In addition, an
anticorrosive material may be mixed with the inert gas prior to
introduction to increase the efficacy of the system. By using an
inert gas that is lighter than air, oxygen and water vapor, all of
the key elements critical to corrosion are displaced from the
system due to the density of the purging fluid (i.e. inert
gas).
The apparatus includes a source of inert gas, a pressure regulator,
a valve and a connector. All four components are fluidly coupled in
series through a suitable conduit or hose. A mating connector is
attached to the engine cooling system, again ideally near an
uppermost portion of the engines cooling system. The mating
connector may remain permanently connected to the engine. The
apparatus connector is connected to the mating engine connector
after the engine has been stopped. After the pressure regulator has
been properly adjusted, the valve is opened for a predetermined
period of time to permit the inert gas to flow and fill the cooling
system. During the filling process, all oxygen and water vapor are
dispelled or forced out of the system through either the intake or
output ports. In an alternate embodiment, a source of anticorrosive
material is provided along with a mixing device to combine the
inert gas and anticorrosive material prior to the introduction of
the mixed compound into the engine.
As used in the present application, an inert gas should be
understood to include a gaseous fluid that is non-reactive with
fluids within the engines cooling system or an inert gaseous fluid
other than oxygen and hydrogen and ideally is a gaseous fluid that
has a density less than that of oxygen and water vapor. The
preferred inert gas is helium. The amount of helium required to
purge the cooling system of oxygen and water vapor is significantly
less than other inert gases due to helium's low density and hence
its natural buoyancy in comparison to air. Helium also prevents the
possibility of air leakage back into a watertight system. Another
suitable non-reactive gas is nitrogen, which would be considered an
inert gas according to the present invention. However the use of
nitrogen would require a greater quantity to be introduced into the
cooling system due to the fact that nitrogen has a density only
slightly less than that of air. In addition, the inert gas may also
include those gases or gaseous compounds that are chemically
non-reactive with the compounds within the cooling system, such as
argon or Freon. Because these inert gases have a density greater
than that of air, these gases must be introduced from the bottom of
the engine cooling system or combustion chamber. It is to be
specifically noted that this reverse purging method falls within
the scope of the present invention.
The anticorrosive material can comprise a lubricant or a
biodegradable material. Suitable lubricants include commercially
available fogging oil. Vegetable oil may also be used as a
biodegradable anticorrosive material.
It is important to note that because an inert gas is utilized in
the preferred embodiment of the invention, the system may be used
at any time after engine shut down. Unlike the prior art processes,
the engine need not be in operation during introduction of the
inert gas. Because the preferred gas is non-reactive or inert, the
gas can be introduced into a hot engine (i.e. there is no need to
wait for the engine to cool before introduction of the inert gas
into the cooling system). The apparatus and method of the present
invention may be used on a marine engine that is in the water, on a
marine engine that has been removed from the water or on any other
fluid cooled engine.
An object of the present invention is to provide a corrosion
inhibiting apparatus and method in which the potential for galvanic
corrosion is chemically terminated, so as to prevent the
accumulation of corrosion within the interior of an internal
combustion engine cooling system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a corrosion
inhibiting process in which all water, oxygen, salts, and other
corrosion causing materials are removed from the cooling system of
an internal combustion engine by the introduction of an inert
non-corrosive gaseous fluid.
A further object is to provide a strategically placed and easily
accessible coupling within the cooling system for introduction of
the buoyant, inert gas into the cooling system.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can
provide the inert gas for a predetermined period of time or in a
predetermined quantity.
A still further object of the invention is to provide dual
protection from corrosion for the cooling system of an internal
combustion engine by providing an anticorrosive protective film
coating for the cooling system while retaining an atmosphere of
inert gas.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter
become more fully apparent from the following description of the
drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the apparatus
by which the present invention may be practiced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the corrosion prevention
system.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative system.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another alternative system.
FIG. 4 is a view of the system connected to an outboard marine
engine.
FIG. 5 is an exploded, partial view of the marine outboard
engine.
FIG. 6 is another exploded, partial view of the marine outboard
engine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable
those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical
embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention that
may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred
embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without
departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is used to indicate
the apparatus of the present invention. The first component
includes a cylindrically shaped tank 11 containing a supply of
inert gas, or a gas that is non-reactive with the fluids within
tank 11. Preferred inert or non-reactive gases for the purpose of
the present invention include helium and nitrogen. The inert gas is
retained within tank 11 under high pressure, and when it is desired
to use the apparatus, valve 12 is opened to introduce a supply of
gas into the system herein after described. A conventional pressure
regulator 13, having the usual pressure gauge 14, is provided in
the system 10 adjacent tank 11, and is adapted to control and limit
the pressure of the inert gas to a maximum level, such as, for
example, 100 pounds per square inch (psi). In order to work
effectively, the inert gas flow must be regulated to gradually
displace all corrosion inducing fluids in the cooling system
without creating an undue pressure buildup in the cooling system. A
relief valve 15, which is actuatable at a set predetermined
pressure such as 120 psi, is provided in the system 10 adjacent
regulator 13 to act as a safety device. A flexible hose 16 extends
from relief valve 15 to a pressure gas jet eductor 17 connected to
an anticorrosive material tank 18, which is adapted to be mixed in
its venturi (not shown) with the supply of inert gas from the tank
11. When the valve 19 of tank 18 is opened, the high velocity inert
gas atomizes the liquid withdrawn from the anticorrosive material
tank 18 into the venturi and creates an anticorrosive protective
film coating or "fog" for coating the internal surfaces of the
cooling system. A pressure gauge 20 is connected in the system
adjacent tank 18, and is suitably provided with a pressure relief
valve 21. A shut-off valve 22 is provided in the system 10 adjacent
gauge 20, and is connected by a flexible hose 23 to a high pressure
quick connect coupling or fitting 24 utilized to convey the inert
gas and anticorrosive material through a mating cooling system
coupling 25 attached to the cooling system 26 of an engine 33 to be
preserved (see FIG. 4).
In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a "Y" fitting 28 may be
provided in flexible hose 23 to allow the system 10 to be provided
with two outlet couplings 24a and 24b. This arrangement is best
used for an engine having two cylinder banks or heads (not
shown).
In yet an another embodiment, designated 10a and as shown in FIG.
3, the handle of valve 22 may be replaced with a solenoid 31
connected to a programmable controller 32 for automatically
dispensing the inert gas contained within tank 11 and corrosion
inhibitor contained within tank 18 into the engine cooling system
26. The controller 32 may further include a timer (not shown) that
can be programmed to allow the inert gas and anticorrosion material
to be dispensed for a predetermined time period. In addition or
alternatively, the timer may be programmed to dispense inert gas
and anticorrosion material at a predetermined time or at
predetermined time intervals. The valve 22 may also include a flow
meter (not shown) connected to the controller 32 that can be
programmed to dispense a predetermined amount of inert gas through
the system 10a.
FIG. 4 shows the system 10 or 10a connected to a marine outboard
engine 33. The present invention has a further advantage in its
application to an outboard marine engine 33 in that the inert gas
may be easily introduced into the interior of the engine cooling
system 26 at the top of the engine 36. As shown quick disconnect
coupling member 25 is in fluid communication with the cooling
system 26 of the engine 33. The quick disconnect coupling member 25
is of a type that is known in the art and that mates with the
coupling member 24 attached to the distal end of hose 23 in the
apparatus 10. When coupling 24 and coupling 25 are connected, a
fluid tight connection is formed. While it is preferred that the
coupling member 25 in fluid communication with the engine's cooling
system remain in the engine once installed, the coupling 25 could
be removed and replaced with a plug (not shown).
The coupling 25 could be placed anywhere in the cooling system 26,
however it is desirable to place the coupling at the highest point
of the cooling system 26 as shown. This allows the inert gas to
dispel all fluids containing corrosion-inducing materials such as
oxygen and water vapor to the bottom of the cooling system where
they are dispelled through the cooling system intake 34 and the
exhaust output 35.
The method of the present invention includes the steps of
installing a coupling in fluid communication with the cooling
system of an engine, connecting a source of pressurized inert gas
to the coupling and dispensing a predetermined amount of gas into
the cooling system.
The preferred inert or non-reactive gases include helium and
nitrogen. Alternate inert gases or gaseous compounds include argon
and Freon. The preferred inert gas should have a density that is
less than the density of corrosion inducing materials that are
sought to be purged from the cooling system such as oxygen and/or
water vapor and should be introduced into an upper portion of the
engine. When the inert gas is introduced into the cooling system 26
of an internal combustion engine, the gas will quickly become
dispersed throughout the entire cooling system 26 of the engine and
will displace air (including oxygen) and water vapor residing
within the cooling system 26. While the inert gas will initially
rise to the top or uppermost portion 36 of the cooling system 26,
as the volume of gas increases and accumulates within the system
the inert gas will force the oxygen and water vapor out of the
system through the cooling system openings including the water
intake 34 and exhaust outlet 35. By removing the oxygen and water
vapor from the system 26, the potential for the formation of
corrosion within the cooling system is also eliminated.
Alternatively, an inert gas that has a density greater than that of
air can also be utilized. However, it is preferable that these
inert gases be introduced into a lower portion of the engine
cooling system.
As shown in FIG. 5, for long periods of storage, the cooling system
intake port 34 and exhaust port 35 of the engine 33 can be suitably
sealed with adhesive tape 37 (or a similar material) to retain the
corrosion inhibiting atmosphere of inert gas within the interior of
the engine cooling system. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 6,
conventional plugs 38 can be installed in the intake port, 34 and
exhaust port 35. It is also contemplated that the inert gas could
be reintroduced to the engine cooling system at a later time during
a prolonged storage period. Utilizing the controller 32 in
conjunction with solenoid valve 31, this may be accomplished
automatically.
De-preservation of the engine preserved by the present apparatus
and method is accomplished by merely starting the engine in the
water to flush the inert gas from the cooling system.
The apparatus and method set forth above can be applied to all
types of engines that may be stored for prolonged periods of time
including engines that have closed loop cooling systems such as
automobile, truck and aircraft engines. The inert gas would be
dispelled into the coolant inlet of the engine while oxygen and
water vapor would be expelled through the coolant outlet. Again,
the inlet and outlet may be sealed after the introduction of inert
gas is complete to retain the inert gas environment within the
cooling system. In addition, many modifications and variations of
the present invention are possible in the light of the above
disclosure. Anyone skilled in the art of preserving machinery can
readily see that this method could equally preserve tanks, heat
exchangers, compressors, pumps, turbines and other types of process
equipment or the like.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not
desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has
been described, the details may be changed without departing from
the invention, which is defined by the claims.
* * * * *